More growth at Liverpool fund manager

Liverpool-based fund managers Rathbone Brothers is to take on another 20 staff at its Port of Liverpool headquarters, increasing its workforce in the city to more than 300 people.

The additional staff follow the opening of two new offices for the firm this year, in Birmingham and Exeter, with a third due to follow - in Aberdeen - in the autumn.

Director of the firm Andrew Morris is delighted with the expansion in Liverpool.

"We provide an operational platform for the entire Rathbones business from here. We have to continually invest in our operational support in Liverpool, so the expansion is great for us," he said.

The firm, which now has 11 UK offices, yesterday announced a 2.5% rise in first-half profits to £24 million, despite what it described as "very challenging" times.

The Liverpool office has funds under management of £1.5 billion. It is attracting significant new business to its charity division and to its ethical investment arm, Greenbank, which launched in May.

Said Morris, "we face the medium and long-term future with guarded optimism."